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Sunday, February 13, 2011

Turkey Meatballs with Lemon-Garlic Yogurt Sauce

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I am prone to wanderlust. When the siren calls, I seek one of two things. It's occasionally the lure of brighter lights or a bigger city, but more often than not, especially these days, solitude better meets my need to cast away. Silence paves the way for reflection. Insight and serenity follow and they are my fresh air, my cosmic oxygen. My Valentine, bless him, has brought me to Loon Lake for the weekend. At this time of year, our only neighbors are the loons and save for their keening wails, silence and solitude reign supreme. The weather today was glorious and though a front has just moved in, we are warm and dry and very well-fed as we sit in this tiny cabin that teeters on the edge of the world. Bob has the fire blazing and the wind and rain are beating a steady tattoo that will have me sleepy well before my bedtime. I'm mesmerized by the artillery-like barrage that pine cones, loosed by the wind and pelting rain, are making as they bounce off the metal roof. There will be a mess for someone to clean up tomorrow, but for tonight all's right with my world. I have a lemon pie, and a special one at that, waiting to set, but it won't be ready in time for tonight's post. Fortunately, I can share tonight's dinner with you. I suspect many of you have read, or are at least familiar with, Molly Wizenberg's cookbook "A Homemade Life". While her recipes are wonderful, I'm always struck by her facility with language and the restrained power of her words. I have come to love her writing and her blog, Orangette. Hers, is one of the few books that has made from the library stacks to my personal collection. The meatballs we had for supper came from her book. While they are delicious, they are hard to categorize. They are vaguely Greek and definitely have their roots in Mediterranean kitchens. The ingredient list will be surprising to many. While the meatballs are made with pine nuts and raisins, they serve to make the recipe unique and add a texture and sweetness that makes an otherwise ordinary dish special. I mixed and formed the meatballs yesterday and brought them with us to be cooked. That gave all the flavors time to develop and made for a very tasty supper. While I served the meatballs on pita bread, it is not necessary and they do quite well on their own. The meatballs can be baked if you are watching your diet. I prefer them fried, but to each his own. These are very easy to make and can be assembled in less than 30 minutes. I promise you the flavor is unique and the meatballs are delicious. Here's the recipe.

Directions:1) To make meatballs: Combine turkey, onion, egg, cilantro, nuts, raisins, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper and cumin in a large bowl. Mix just until ingredients are combined and evenly mixed. With wet hands form the mixture into 1 to 1-1/2-inch balls. Set on a tray. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and chill until ready to sauté.2) To make sauce: Combine yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, cumin and salt in a small bowl. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate.3) To cook: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a heavy skillet over moderate heat, and sauté meatballs in batches, so as not to crowd them. As they begin to color, turn them regularly so that they are golden on all sides. They should be done when they are evenly browned and feel medium firm, but not hard when touched. Place on a paper towel to catch excess oil. Serve hot, warm, or cold with yogurt sauce. Yield: 4 to 5 servings.

Hi Mary, Thanks for visiting my blog. These look amazing, fresh and healthy! I'm always looking for some new things to cook and eat, this will be on that list. I'm looking forward to browsing through your many recipes and attempting some.

This is what I consider comfort food of the first magnitude. These babies can be eaten in a dignified manner as well as the way I do it---by attacking them either with mashed potatoes or in a sub. Ummm.

Oh Mary, it sounds like a fabulous weekend...and what's better than warming up a cabin with delicious smells. How thoughtful of your Silver Fox to take you away from it all. Hope you have a great weekend!

Your getaway sounds perfect...very nice gift from your valentine. I would love to see the lake and the loons!I think the meatballs served on pita will be delicious..your picture belongs in the cookbook.Thanks for the tip of Orangette's blog....will visit her now!

Wow mary just when i thought your recipes could not make my mouth drop anymore! i nearly dribbled these look and sound so good! Definately one im going to have to cook up! Thanks for visiting my blog as well :o) xx

I am a fan of Orangette as well. There is something about her way with words that makes me wish I knew her in real life, or at the very least had the pleasure of spending an afternoon in her company (not unlike yourself). These meatballs sound phenomenal and a must try.

The cabin sounds like a cozy retreat Mary! Enjoy! I am about halfway through Homemade Life right now - I can't wait to try some of her recipes. The meatballs look wonderfully delicious with that lemon sauce to brighten them up!

I love the unique components of this meatball recipe. I am hankering to give it a try. Anything with pine nuts has to be amazing! I'm glad you are having such a nice getaway. I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow. Take time to love yourself and those that are dearest to your heart!

Mary, these sound delicious and coincidentally I happen to have some ground turkey for this evening's dinner. Shall I make my favorite turkey burgers or this? We could have turkey two nights in a row. ;)

I hope you and the Silver Fox are enjoying your special Valentine's Day. :)

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